It's not just the music, it's the story behind it. Bunch of musicians, all having been screwing each other (some changing lovers mid-session) or married/divorced, tons of drugs, egos out the wazoo, and producers trying to keep them together in the sessions, going so far as to almost stick them in hostel rooms to cloister them. You had band members writing and singing lyrics about their breakups with other band members, or about the lovers they'd had since they broke up with someone in the band. I remember hearing a live version of "Never Going Back Again," a song Buckingham wrote about a fling with a woman while he was with Stevie Nicks, and Nicks came out to do guest vocals with him; it felt horribly awkward. The entire album had heart-wrenching, agonizing, twist the knife negative karma, but it worked. When you combine all the talent, angst and yes, chemical substances, it does make for amazing music.

It's like the Abbey Road sessions; a bunch of guys who didn't want to be playing music together anymore, roped into it by the producer, teasing their best creations out of them in a month-long session, ultimately creating one of the best Beatles albums ever made (if not one of the best albums of all time).

Music, like any art has to be one of those things that arises from pain, regret, longing. We are often the best when things are at their worst, and that brings out the best lyrics, harmonies and compositions.

Rumours is one of the few albums I can listen to beginning to end and never feel like it's been overplayed. Then again I can do the same with Tenacious D's first album, so it's not as if I'm trying to be a snob about it.

The more hip you think they think they think they are. We all like music for our own reasons. When i heard fleetwood mac i didnt think im not gonna not like this on purpose to be bold and just to upset someone on the internet in 20 years

The sad thing is, Boston isn't bad. It's fine arena rock, and Tom Scholz is a decent guitarist. It's just been overplayed so freaking much that I can't hear any of it without getting all stabby.

Seriously, in the late 90s I was working in a shop where the radio was pegged to the Classic Rock station, and they played a Boston song every two hours. Literally. Every. Two. Hours. And not a deep cut. And nothing from "Third Stage", which for classic rock aficionados must've been some anathema from the 80s or something.

After the third repetition of "Foreplay/Long Time" you start getting a little bughouse.

SilentStrider:I'm with that guy. Never understood the love for that album/group.

I don't care for Fleetwood Mac much, but I remember listening to that album 900 times when it came out--because those were the day, kids, when a cassette tape (I think it was a cassette and not an 8-track) was a prized possession, and you could only afford a few of them. So when Mom gave you the car to drive around at night, you had to bring your tapes with you or listen to the radio.

And all we had was Rumours. And Boston. There were a few others swimming around, but all I can remember is "Yoooouuuuuuuuuuuuuu, you make lovin fun!"

It amazes how much music I listened to unquestioningly when I was young and a captive audience, only to grow up and think, many years later, You know, I never liked those songs.

Krikkitbot:I also thing it's funny how the author is criticizing Fleetwood Mac for being a bland middle of the road band while he is writing for freaking NPR!!!

Ever heard the NPR All Songs Considered podcast?

I"ll save you some time ... it's a roundtable discussion where a bunch of 40 somethings hate your favorite band, and then promote a garage band that they saw live at SXSW this year that banged on trashcans with a boatoar and fed feedback through their amps for 90 minutes. Then they play a 9 minute clip of said boat oars on trashcans and feedback. Then they then take turns in a game of hyperbole one-ups-manship as to who was the most effected by this band.

Guy 1: "When I first heard them, I broke down and openly sobbed remembering the inevitable death and decay of all life".

Guy 2: "Yeah, I had a little stronger reaction than you, because I'm much more sensitive to the power of music than you .... I openly sobbed to start out, but then I started to vomit bile from the sad, morose beauty of it all".

Guy 3: "Well, I guess I was a little more moved by the music than both of you, probably because you're both pop music loving philistines who probably listen to Carly Rae Jepsen .... but when I first heard this album, I openly sobbed, then vomited bile and then went a step further and put on a teaparty dress and started cutting myself because daddy never told me I was a pretty boy. I guess I just love real, authentic music that much than you, but you two go ahead and enjoy your Call Me Maybes"